Broyles to wed

Frank Broyles is getting married again. The athletic director of the University of Arkansas confirmed that he and Guendaline “Gen” Whitehead of Little Rock will be getting hitched soon.

“She’s leaving the date up to me,” he said. “We’re thinking about Jan. 1.”

Broyles’ wife Barbara died last year after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. They were married for 59 years.

Mrs. Whitehead’s late husband James, who died two years ago, helped found the creative writing program at UA.

Broyles, 81, has six children, and the future Mrs. Broyles has seven. “We’re going to be a houseful at Thanksgiving,” Broyles said. “We’ll eat Thanksgiving dinner at my house at noon and at hers in the evening.”

Huckabee Hall

The Governor’s Mansion Commission will name the Grand Hall, the new banquet space added on to the Mansion during the Huckabee tenure, after first lady Janet Huckabee.

Mrs. Huckabee oversaw construction of the hall and renovation of the family areas of the mansion, a project that cost more than $3 million.

The Commission voted on the honor at a meeting in the fall, commissioner Teresa Ann Allen of Rogers said, but will withhold the naming ceremony until just before Mike Huckabee’s term expires in January 2007.

Allen said the first lady had left “quite a legacy” and that renaming the Great Hall was an appropriate measure to take to recognize her work. It joins a state nature center at Fort Smith as a namesake for the first lady.

The governor so far only has a single namesake state structure, a nature center in Pine Bluff. Perhaps they could name the State Police plane after him, too.

Growing congregation

U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder and his wife, Rev. Betsy Singleton, are expecting their first child in June. Singleton made the announcement last Sunday while presiding over services at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church. First she asked that all first-time visitors to the church stand up. Then she specifically asked Snyder to stand, too, before explaining that on June 2 they will have a “first-time visitor.”

Another candidate

Larry Case, the Little Rock private investigator who popped up on the fringe of Clinton scandal stories back in the golden days of 1992, called in response to an item here that said former TV man Dewayne Graham plans to run for Pulaski County sheriff as a Republican next year. Case wants it noted that he’s also contemplating a race for the office as a Republican. Noted.

Think Republican

When Judge Morris “Buzz” Arnold of Little Rock retires next year as a federal appellate judge, that might create a choice appointment for an Arkansan, though Midwestern Republican senators can be expected to try to nab the seat.

The nominee will be a Republican. But would Gov. Mike Huckabee influence the choice, or U.S. Rep. John Boozman?

One lawyer mentioned prominently is the Friday firm’s Jonann Chiles. She has worked in the ad hoc advocacy group put together to promote George W. Bush’s judicial choices. She’s a native Texan, too (a law graduate, like Harriett Miers, of SMU). Another name to remember is that of another Friday firm member, Kevin Crass. He’s been the governor’s lawyer.

More by Max Brantley

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